Introduction (1) I mentioned in my last report the improvement of conditions and the peace of mind in the country, and I say now that this improvement is lasting and has yielded results that are fully satisfactory. The complete tranquility that encompassed Egypt throughout the year was of the greatest benefit, because the success of the country's inhabitants in their economic affairs is linked to the continuation of this satisfactory state. There is great hope that if natural conditions remain favorable, the country will experience continuous progress and prosperity without interruption.

If we consider the low Nile flood, which was a limiting factor, we can say that the year was one of great wealth and prosperity. Had the Nile waters receded to this extent in previous years, it would have caused a general famine for the nation. However, the completion of the Aswan Dam at the end of 1912 enabled the storage of sufficient water to achieve the cotton harvest, which is the greatest source of the country's wealth. Nevertheless, the upper part of the Nile Valley, where summer irrigation is not readily available, suffered greatly from the severe drought, as the Nile waters did not rise sufficiently. Many people were forced to seek their livelihood elsewhere. Many of them found opportunities to work in canal projects in the Delta, and the government assisted them as much as it could. The people of the regions affected by the drought proved that they were able to compensate for their losses to some extent through their hard work and adaptability to the circumstances.

Furthermore, the low flood, which had such a bad effect on Upper Egypt, led at the end of the year to a great decrease in the Nile waters, unprecedented in a hundred years or more. Despite all the means and measures now available for storing this water, they will only be sufficient to irrigate the cotton crop in the spring of 1914. As for other crops, they will inevitably suffer from drought, and rice, which requires a large amount of water, cannot be planted at all. This confirms the views I expressed in last year's report regarding the necessity of increasing the supply of stored water for irrigation in early summer by building a dam on the Mediterranean Sea. It will be clear from what will be discussed in another paragraph on this matter that preparatory measures have been taken to bring this project from conception to reality.